Ford F150 and Equal-i-zer WDHitch

Is anyone using an Equal-i-zer WDHitch with a late model F150? If so, are you using the standard shank??

[Wavery]

Originally Posted by whbob

Is anyone using an Equal-i-zer WDHitch with a late model F150? If so, are you using the standard shank??

I'm just curious.....why would you need a WDH with an F150??

I am considering buying an F150 (crew-cab) and one of the reasons is to eliminate the need a a WDH.....As I get older, it becomes necessary to eliminate all the extra steps in towing and set-up that I can. Besides, we want to go to a larger TT with slide outs, when we retire. We will need a bigger pick up at that time.

Harvey, Ford has a optional factory installed spring for heavy towing. I will look into this Monday and see if it affects ride and if it is available as an add-on. The truck suspension as bought is very high (it's 2wd but looks like 4wd) and it drops much more than my 99 Ram wagon 2500 with my scooter and misc plus the 2720 loaded with freshwater etc. The F150 has great power and great economy with 6 spd. PS-the Ram's rear wheels were closer to the rear of the vehicle.

Originally Posted by harveyrv

I'm just curious.....why would you need a WDH with an F150??

Wayne, a WDH really helps even a F150, and might even be a necessity depending on the tongue weight and hitch.

Case in point: With a 480 lb. tongue weight on my 2720, it added 700 lbs. to the rear axle of my 2006 F150, and took 220 lbs. off of my front axle. Then I added another battery to the tongue, and usually traveled with a full water tank, which probably brought the tongue weight up to the vicinity of 550 lbs. Of course the WDH took take of that beautifully. But......the 550 lb. tongue exceeded the weight carrying capacity of the Ford hitch, which had a rating of 500/5000 lbs (tongue weight/trailer weight), but was well within the 990/9000 lb. weight distributing rating.

My DD and SIL have an older F350, and I believe that they have the same hitch and ratings, so even that heavy duty truck would "need" a WDH if they were pulling my TM......because of the heavy tongue on the TM and the low rating of the hitch. They pull a light duty Jayco, and still use a WDH.....it makes for a much better ride and safer trip.

BTW, their F350 has a lower tow rating than my F150, with the same engine, transmission, and final drive ratio......go figure.

WhBob:

I tow a stock 2009 Trailmanor 3023 with a 2009 F150 crew-cab (5.4 liter), with FX4 max tow package. Absolutely no need for a weight distribution hitch with this set up. I don't begrudge those who want the belt and suspenders approach with this or a similar set up, but there is nothing unsafe about towing with the set up I note here.

Good luck and good towing.

Skeetman

Thanks for the responses. You have the extra spring that I will check into Monday. Adding it would be the simplest way forward and cleaner (less grease to handle). I will post what I find out.

[ferdoh]

Just got home from our first trip with the 09 f150 sc and our 3124.
We put the wd hitch on just like we did with the '97. It handels nicely but it is geared very high ie lots of shifting in the hills of central OH. I think it would pull ok empty without the hitch but loaded with the hitch is much better. Curiously, it road better on the way there with a full water tank than on the way home with the tank empty! PS It has the 4.6l 3 valve. The computer showed 14.6 mph on the way home @ 65mph.

I have the 5.4 3valve with 6 speed extended cab with 3.55 rear in. It does not shift excessively and has plenty of power pulling my 2720. mpg is outstanding.
Thanks for the hitch comments.

[girlbugspoppa]

We had a 2720SL that we towed with our '05 F-150 w/towing package (no WDH), had no problems. Recently purchased a '09 3124KS and wondered if we would see or feel any difference. It seems to tow just as well, maybe even a little better with the 15" tires. We plan on giving it more of a test next month up in the Smoky Mountains.

[Wavery]

Originally Posted by mtnguy

Wayne, a WDH really helps even a F150, and might even be a necessity depending on the tongue weight and hitch.

Case in point: With a 480 lb. tongue weight on my 2720, it added 700 lbs. to the rear axle of my 2006 F150, and took 220 lbs. off of my front axle. Then I added another battery to the tongue, and usually traveled with a full water tank, which probably brought the tongue weight up to the vicinity of 550 lbs. Of course the WDH took take of that beautifully. But......the 550 lb. tongue exceeded the weight carrying capacity of the Ford hitch, which had a rating of 500/5000 lbs (tongue weight/trailer weight), but was well within the 990/9000 lb. weight distributing rating.

My DD and SIL have an older F350, and I believe that they have the same hitch and ratings, so even that heavy duty truck would "need" a WDH if they were pulling my TM......because of the heavy tongue on the TM and the low rating of the hitch. They pull a light duty Jayco, and still use a WDH.....it makes for a much better ride and safer trip.

BTW, their F350 has a lower tow rating than my F150, with the same engine, transmission, and final drive ratio......go figure.

Thanks but it's a mute point now.......we went out today and found a 2006 Chevy Silverado (long-bed - ext cab) V8 that was a very good deal. It has a 5900# tow capacity and a 12,000# GCWR (That gives us nearly 6,000# for passengers, cargo, trailer and fuel). We bought it. Won't be able to bring it home until tomorrow as the dealer wanted to fix a few things for us.

This truck has a "Roll-out" bed on it that is really cool. I thought I'd share: